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Shaking hands, clenched fists, beads of perspiration on forehead, all of us are familiar with that nerve-racking feeling as the hour of speech delivery approaches. The thoughts of how everything can go wrong begin to play with our mind. We fear the embarrassment of forgetting the speech or stumbling while speaking. It, sometimes, heightens to the extent that we start panicking.
When we are forming the content of the speech, we opt for flowery language that we feel would make us sound intelligent and knowledgeable. Hence, we end up making a complex speech, difficult for us to remember.
However, what most of us forget is that forgetting the speech is alright as long as you know how the main content of the speech. The audience is not impressed by flowery language as much as it is impressed with a well-structured and informative speech by an eloquent speaker.
Good speeches are the ones that connect with the audience. Thus, flowery language or bigger words are not necessary to drill the idea home. Our target is to convey the information to the audience as clearly as possible. Hence, our speech must be formed by taking consideration of the type of audience we are addressing. It is better to opt for easy flowing language. It will enable you to connect with the audience as well as convey the information properly.
Flowery language often refers to ornate elaborate and poetic language which may be beautiful to listen but often difficult to decipher in small amounts of time. However, explaining speech within time is vital for retention else the words will dissipate away and the speech will be forgotten. Hence, easy swift language is a better option for conveying the speech.
Here are a few tips that will not only strengthen this argument but will also help you form a good speech:
1. Speech must have a point: Often, in the urge to make the speech memorable, we add unnecessary details and overuse flowery words to decorate our speech, thereby forgetting the main agenda of the speech.
Nearly everyone has heard a speech and walked away wondering what it was really about. Thus, in the effort to make the speech glittery, do not commit this mistake of over-doing it as ‘All that glitters is not gold’.
2. The Speech must connect with the audience: Although we are the ones giving the speech, yet we must keep in mind the power of a conversation. Not everyone is a good listener and our key must be to formulate the speech in a way such that it becomes a way of conversing with the audience.
Flowery language often hampers this mode of interaction. It is easier for the audience to keep track of easy flowing language rather than complex comprehensive language.
A connection can be made through eye contact, but using language that the audience feels comfortable with, is a must.
3. The speech should have the right tone: While formulating the speech, we must keep in mind what the requirement of the audience is.
Think about the audience and why they are listening. This will help you to select the right tone. According to Forbes, whether your goal is to challenge, entertain, motivate, or inform, we must have the right tone. The language used in a stand-up comedy show will be very different from the one in an open mic concert or the one in an interview.
4. The speech must be well-structured: Language takes a back step in this point, the structure of the speech leads here. The speech should have a beginning, a middle and an end. Audiences often react best when they are given the basic introduction to the topic in the beginning.
Diving directly into the topic creates confusion. Hence, beginning by giving out the main points and letting the audience know how we will proceed helps them keep a track of the speech.
5. Speech with a story helps: The flowery language might come in handy at this point. Stories help in attracting the audience and channelizing their minds in a specific direction as we give our speech. It infuses imagination along with the words, and flowery language helps in decorating the tale. However, it is not necessary at the cost of forgetting the speech through complex words.
Simple words also have the power to capture the audience if spoken fluently with proper pauses in a conversational way.
6. The Speech should be revised and practiced: Simple language helps us to memorize the speech better, making it easy for us to speak eloquently. Hence, it becomes easier for us to keep track of the points and alter, if necessary, at a short notice. Thus, flowery language might work as a backlog here.
Thus, the flowery language is not a necessity for good speeches. A clear, crisp, and precise speech will do the work more effectively. Also, too many speakers talk for too long. If you want the audience to yearn for more, you must keep your speech a bit on the shorter side. With or without flowery language, short speeches serve and survive better than longer ones.
Written by - Anwesha Basu
Edited by - Vasudha Sabharwal
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